Ranked IBF #1 at 135 pounds…
World championship fights: 0-1…
Former lightweight world title challenger…
Former European light welterweight champion, two successful defenses…

At the age of 30, Denis is an 11-year pro. A contender at 135 pounds – ranked No. 1 by the IBF – he is a former European light welterweight champion. He won the title in September, 2011, and made two successful title defenses.
He is coming off his second win in Macau. He has fought 13 times in his native Russia, 13 times in Finland – where he was based from 2007 to 2011 – four times in Belarus, three times in the United States, and one time each in Latvia, Scotland, and Mexico.
In his last fight on July 18 at the Venetian Macao, he won by third-round TKO over Roy Mukhlis.
After the fight, Dan Rafaelwrote on ESPN.com [excerpts]: Shafikov, 30, of Russia, was supposed to challenge Mickey Bey for his lightweight world title on this card. Bey had signed a contract for the mandatory bout but then pulled out and vacated his title -- he was about to be stripped -- because he was unhappy with the money....
Shafikov, who once previously fought for a lightweight world title and lost a competitive unanimous decision to Miguel Vazquez in Macau in February 2014, has now won three in a row since that loss after blitzing Mukhlis. Shafikov, trained by Abel Sanchez, scored a second-round knockdown with a combination, including a left hand on top of the head that forced Mukhlis to touch his glove to the mat as he tried to stay up by grabbing onto the ring ropes. In the third round, Shafikov was pounding him and after he landed a combination, Mukhlis...

Key Fights – 2015 – in his last fight on 7-18-15 in Macau, CHI, he won by third-round TKO over Roy Mukhlis (27-5-3, 21 KOs): Denis dropped Mukhlis in the second with a combination, then, in the third, he battered Mukhlis until Mukhlis walked away, waving his glove in surrender...
2014 - On 12-13-14 in Las Vegas, NV, he won an 8 round unanimous decision against Miguel Mendoza (21-4-2): the bout was on the undercard of the Timothy Bradley Jr.-Diego Chaves main event, and Denis dominated the fight; he outworked Mendoza and consistently landed the harder punches, and Mendoza was battered and bloodied; scored 79-73 on all three scorecards…
IBF L WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR – on 8-15-14 in Santa Ynez, CA, he won by knockout (9th round) against Rustam Nugaev (27-6-1): the scheduled 12-rounder headlined at Chumash Casino, and Denis dominated the fight; he pressed forward, consistently landed the harder punches, and steadily wore him down; Nugaev was cut on the bridge of his nose and over his left eye in the 3rd round; Denis staggered him with a series of unanswered punches in the 9th round, and the referee stopped the fight at 1:46…
IBF L WORLD TITLE CHALLENGE – on 2-22-14 in Macau, CHI, he lost a 12 round unanimous decision against defending champion Miguel Vazquez (33-3): the bout was co-featured with the Zou Shiming-Yokthong Kokietgym main event; Denis pressed forward, but Vazquez kept him off-balance with almost constant movement, scored with counterpunches, and clinched at close range; Vazquez was cut over his left eye by a clash of heads in the 4th round, and Denis was cut over his right eye by a clash of heads in the 8th round; scored 116-112, 115-113, 119-110…

2013 – on 8-17-13 in Laredo, TX, he won by TKO (7th round) against lefthanded Santos Benavides...

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS: Denis said that he was born and raised in Miass, Russia, a small industrial city in the Ural mountains…he first started boxing at the age of six – he said he didn’t like it much at first, and tried all the other sports available in the city until a classmate convinced him to try boxing again, and he started taking it seriously at 13…
He reportedly had around 90 amateur fights, with six losses…he won several trophies in junior amateur tournaments, but “wasn’t that excited” about boxing as an amateur; he said, "I needed to earn money for my family, not medals."...
AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:
2001 RUSSIAN CADET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Rostov, Russia, 132 pounds: in his first fight on 6-2-01 he won a 5-0 decision against Alexandr Chukardin; in his second fight on 6-4-01 he lost a 5-0 decision against Iman Kuliyev...

STRENGTHS: A lefthander with an aggressive style, good skills and movement…has good punching power…at his best, he constantly pressures his opponents and wears them down…

At the age of 30, Denis is an 11-year pro. A contender at 135 pounds – ranked No. 1 by the IBF – he is a former European light welterweight champion. He won the title in September, 2011, and made two successful title defenses.

He is coming off his second win in Macau. He has fought 13 times in his native Russia, 13 times in Finland – where he was based from 2007 to 2011 – four times in Belarus, three times in the United States, and one time each in Latvia, Scotland, and Mexico.

In his last fight on July 18 at the Venetian Macao, he won by third-round TKO over Roy Mukhlis.

After the fight, Dan Rafaelwrote on ESPN.com [excerpts]: Shafikov, 30, of Russia, was supposed to challenge Mickey Bey for his lightweight world title on this card. Bey had signed a contract for the mandatory bout but then pulled out and vacated his title -- he was about to be stripped -- because he was unhappy with the money....

Shafikov, who once previously fought for a lightweight world title and lost a competitive unanimous decision to Miguel Vazquez in Macau in February 2014, has now won three in a row since that loss after blitzing Mukhlis. Shafikov, trained by Abel Sanchez, scored a second-round knockdown with a combination, including a left hand on top of the head that forced Mukhlis to touch his glove to the mat as he tried to stay up by grabbing onto the ring ropes. In the third round, Shafikov was pounding him and after he landed a combination, Mukhlis turned away and waved his hand to quit like Roberto Duran did in his famed "no mas" rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard. Referee Katsuhiko Nakamura seemed confused at first but then realized Mukhlis was quitting and waved off the fight at 1 minute, 14 seconds. [End Rafael item]

Comparing his recent training in the United States to his earlier training in Russia, Denis told Pound4Pound.com, "The guys that I've fought and sparred in Europe and the guys that I've sparred here – the boxing is a lot more aggressive out here. They're tougher guys and they're stronger. The guys are more tactical. That's probably the biggest difference that I’ve seen.

"I've always viewed the States as the center of the boxing universe. I've gotten to the point where I realize that it's certainly worthy and important for me to fight out here. That's why I'm here."

Denis said his nickname, “Ghengis Khan,” was the idea of one of his early promoters. He said, "I am not Mongolian, I am Bashkir. But our national dressings look the same and I want to conquer the world as Ghengis Khan did."

Fight History

Key Fights – 2015 – in his last fight on 7-18-15 in Macau, CHI, he won by third-round TKO over Roy Mukhlis (27-5-3, 21 KOs): Denis dropped Mukhlis in the second with a combination, then, in the third, he battered Mukhlis until Mukhlis walked away, waving his glove in surrender...

2014 - On 12-13-14 in Las Vegas, NV, he won an 8 round unanimous decision against Miguel Mendoza (21-4-2): the bout was on the undercard of the Timothy Bradley Jr.-Diego Chaves main event, and Denis dominated the fight; he outworked Mendoza and consistently landed the harder punches, and Mendoza was battered and bloodied; scored 79-73 on all three scorecards…

IBF L WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR – on 8-15-14 in Santa Ynez, CA, he won by knockout (9th round) against Rustam Nugaev (27-6-1): the scheduled 12-rounder headlined at Chumash Casino, and Denis dominated the fight; he pressed forward, consistently landed the harder punches, and steadily wore him down; Nugaev was cut on the bridge of his nose and over his left eye in the 3rd round; Denis staggered him with a series of unanswered punches in the 9th round, and the referee stopped the fight at 1:46…

IBF L WORLD TITLE CHALLENGE – on 2-22-14 in Macau, CHI, he lost a 12 round unanimous decision against defending champion Miguel Vazquez (33-3): the bout was co-featured with the Zou Shiming-Yokthong Kokietgym main event; Denis pressed forward, but Vazquez kept him off-balance with almost constant movement, scored with counterpunches, and clinched at close range; Vazquez was cut over his left eye by a clash of heads in the 4th round, and Denis was cut over his right eye by a clash of heads in the 8th round; scored 116-112, 115-113, 119-110…

2013 – on 8-17-13 in Laredo, TX, he won by TKO (7th round) against lefthanded Santos Benavides (23-3-2): the scheduled 10-rounder was co-featured with the Juan Diaz-Adailton DeJesus main event, and Denis dominated the fight; he scored a knockdown in the 2nd round, then scored another knockdown in the 3rd; he scored another knockdown in the 6th round, and Benevides did not continue after the round; the local commission records it as a TKO at 0:10 of the 7th round...

1ST WBC BALTIC L TITLE DEFENSE – on 3-16-13 in Noginsk, RUS, he won by disqualification (11th round) against 2000 Uzbekistan Olympian Alisher Rahimov (25-1): the scheduled 12-rounder headlined at Sports Palace Znamya, and Denis dominated most of the fight; he pressed forward and consistently outworked Rahimov; Rahimov landed a low blow in the 10th round; he landed two more low blows – ruled intentional – in the 11th; he was penalized one point for the first one, and DQed after the second one at 2:24; after 10 rounds, Denis led by scores of 100-92, 100-91, 98-92...

2012 – WON VACANT WBC BALTIC L TITLE – on 12-1-12 in Cozumel, MX, he won a 12 round unanimous decision against Albert Mensah (25-3-1): the bout headlined at Parque Andrés Quintana Roo; Denis pressed forward and kept a relentless pace – he scored two knockdowns, and dominated most of the fight; Mensah was cut and swollen over his left eye, and Denis was cut over his right eye in the 7th round; scored 118-108, 118-108, 117-107...

On 9-18-12 in Moscow, RUS, he won and 8 round unanimous decision against James Onyango (9-4-1): the bout was on the undercard at Varshavka Sky, and Denis dominated; he pressed forward, consistently outworked Onyango, and rocked him repeatedly; scored 80-73, 80-73, 80-72...

2ND EUROPEAN LW TITLE DEFENSE – on 5-31-12 in Ufa, RUS, he won a 12 round unanimous decision in the rematch against previously undefeated Brunet Zamora (22-0-2): the bout headlined at Ufa Arena –Denis dominated most of the fight, and avenged his 12-round draw against Zamora from a year and a half earlier; the early rounds were close, but Denis staggered Zamora in the 4th round, and Zamora fought defensively after that; scored 117-112, 117-111, 117-113...

1ST EUROPEAN LW TITLE DEFENSE – on 2-25-12 in Aberdeen, SCOT, he won by TKO (7th round) against hometown favorite Lee McAllister (34-2): the scheduled 12 rounder headlined at the Exhibition Centre, and Denis dominated most of the fight; he pressed forward and consistently outworked McAllister, and McAllister injured his left hand; Denis rocked him repeatedly in the 6th and 7th rounds, and McAllister did not continue after the 7th round...

2011 – WON VACANT EBU LW TITLE – on 9-23-11 in Helsinki, FIN, he won by TKO (9th round) against Giuseppe Lauri (52-7): the scheduled 12 rounder was co-featured at Ice Hall, and Denis dominated most of the fight; he consistently outworked Lauri, landed the harder punches, and wore him down; Denis scored a knockdown with a left hand in the 8th round, and Lauri did not continue after the round...

On 3-4-11 in Helsinki he won by TKO (5th round) against Nugzar Margvelashvili (18-9): the scheduled 8 rounder was co-featured at Hartwall Arena; Denis scored a knockdown in the 4th round; he scored another knockdown in the 5th, and the referee stopped the fight at 1:53...

2010 – on 10-29-10 in St. Petersburg, RUS, he had a 12 round draw against Brunet Zamora (20-0): the bout was one of the co-features at Yubileiny Sports Palace, and ended with a questionable decision; Denis pressed forward, consistently outworked Zamora, and dominated most of the fight; Zamora boxed and counterpunched well at times and rallied in the late rounds; most observers thought Denis clearly deserved to win, but the judges scored 115-113 Zamora, 114-114, 114-114...

On 9-4-10 in Helsinki he won an 8 round unanimous decision against Peter Semo (19-5): scored 79-73, 79-73, 80-72...

17-22-10 in Jurmala, LAT, he won by TKO (6th round, 3:00) against Leonardo Resendez (23-24)...

On 6-30-10 in St. Petersburg he won by knockout (1st round, 1:05) against Bobir Normatov (1-8-1)...

On 9-25-09 in St. Petersburg he won by TKO (2nd round, 1:26) against Alexey Volchan (17-8-2)...

On 5-30-09 in Helsinki he won by TKO (1st round, 2:00) against John Cotterill (23-7)...

On 4-18-09 in Helsinki he won an 8 round unanimous decision against Juan Rodriguez (57-22-2): scored 79-73, 78-75, 80-73...

On 2-14-09 in Tampere, FIN, he won by TKO (2nd round, 1:00) against Decho Bankluagym (30-11-2)...

2008 – on 11-28-08 in Helsinki he won a technical decision (6th round) against former WBA lightweight world champion Raul Balbi (55-9-1): Balbi was cut badly by an accidental clash of heads in the 6th round – the fight was stopped on the injury at 0:28 and went to the scorecards; Denis led by scores of 60-54 on all three scorecards...

On 8-30-08 in Tampere he won by TKO (2nd round, 2:15) against Andrzej Sark (14-4)...

On 4-18-08 in Helsinki he won a 10 round unanimous decision against Shawn Gallegos (16-3): scored 99-91, 99-91, 98-93...

On 2-1-08 in Helsinki he won by TKO (4th round, 3:00) against Sergei Savrinovics (1-3-1)...

2007 – on 12-20-07 in Vyborg, RUS, he won by knockout (4th round) against Alexander Saltykov (5-6-2)...

On 10-20-07 in Helsinki he won by TKO (2nd round, 1:08) against Nizar Boubaker (11-8)...

On 5-17-07 in Helsinki he won and 8 round unanimous decision against Cristian Frias (20-1-2): scored 80-72, 80-72, 80-73...

He debuted at the age of 18 on 11-30-03...

Amateur / Personal Background

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS: Denis said that he was born and raised in Miass, Russia, a small industrial city in the Ural mountains…he first started boxing at the age of six – he said he didn’t like it much at first, and tried all the other sports available in the city until a classmate convinced him to try boxing again, and he started taking it seriously at 13…

He reportedly had around 90 amateur fights, with six losses…he won several trophies in junior amateur tournaments, but “wasn’t that excited” about boxing as an amateur; he said, "I needed to earn money for my family, not medals."...

AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:

2001 RUSSIAN CADET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – Rostov, Russia, 132 pounds: in his first fight on 6-2-01 he won a 5-0 decision against Alexandr Chukardin; in his second fight on 6-4-01 he lost a 5-0 decision against Iman Kuliyev...

STRENGTHS: A lefthander with an aggressive style, good skills and movement…has good punching power…at his best, he constantly pressures his opponents and wears them down…

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 11 years, 8 months…38 fights…232 total rounds…12 world championship rounds…